Kenneth Melvin Paison, 87, of Browning Masonic Assisted Living in Waterville, OH, and formerly of Fayette, died early Wednesday morning, February 24, 2016, at Hospice of NWO in Toledo. He was born July 20, 1928, in Morenci, MI, to the late Clifford and Caroline (Paine) Paison. He was raised in Fayette by the late Harold and Beatrice Wilson. He married Shirley J. Cox on December 6, 1952, at the Morenci United Methodist Church, and she survives.
Kenny, a 1947 graduate of Gorham Fayette High School, was a lifelong resident of the area. He worked for several years at the water plant at the Village of Fayette, and later worked security at Sauder in Archbold. He proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army during the Korean Conflict where he received a Purple Heart, and was honorably discharged on July 25, 1952.
Kenny was an active member of the Fayette American Legion John Dale Post #143, the Korean War Vets, the Masonic Lodge of Wauseon, and the Eastern Stars of Fairfield, MI, and Wauseon. He and Shirley were long-time members of the Fayette United Methodist Church. He enjoyed fishing and travels throughout the United States, and most importantly, moments spent together with his family.
Surviving in addition to his wife, Shirley, of Waterville, are their children, Portia (Roger) Garza of Toledo, Ken (Jackie) Paison of Fairbanks, AK, Janet (Jim) Payton of Norco, CA, and Michele (Bruce) Short of Stryker, OH; eleven grandchildren; and sixteen great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Beatrice Eckman; and two brothers, Frank and Larry Wilson.
A memorial service for Kenneth Paison will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. at the Fayette United Methodist Church with Pastor Andrea Curry officiating. Interment with military honors conducted by the Fulton County Honor Guard will take place in the Pleasant View Union Cemetery in Fayette. The family will receive friends for a visitation on Saturday, for two hours prior to the service at the church. Arrangements were handled by the Eagle Funeral Home in Fayette.
Those planning an expression of sympathy may consider memorial donations in honor of Kenny to the Fayette United Methodist Church (305 E. Main St., Fayette, OH 43521), Browning Masonic Community Bus Campaign (8883 Browning Dr., Waterville, OH 43566) or charity of the donor’s choice. Friends can share memories and words of comfort to the family online at www.eaglefuneralhomes.com.